Purchasing Restaurant Furniture: The Differences Between Commercial and Residential Tables and Chairs

There is no doubt that the tables and chairs in a busy family home get plenty of wear and tear and the kitchen probably resembles a diner on many occasions, but put residential tables and chairs in a commercial restaurant setting, and they might struggle to survive too long. Commercial suppliers like TableLegsOnline.com make high-grade and durable furniture that is designed to withstand prolonged use and perform well under the stress of constant traffic and usage, so what makes the difference?

Design differences :

Some of the design differences between residential and commercial grade tables and chairs are not immediately noticeable, and that is often intentional. The secret to great commercial seating and tables is to create just the right look and support, without trying too hard to look too different from their residential counterparts. You want the layout and seating options to look warm and inviting to restaurant guests, but you also want it to perform to a commercial standard. One example of this would be with restaurant chairs, which are often designed to be lower in height, so that your eyeline is not filled with a sea of chair backs when you look around the restaurant. Many commercial chairs are custom designed to look and feel great not just for the user, but from an aesthetic perspective as well.

The test of time :

When you invest in restaurant seating and tables, you expect your purchase to stand the test of time and perform admirably under duress without breaking and withstanding a substantial amount of wear and tear in the process. The furniture used around a family dining table at home will probably only get used a few times a day on average, so it is often designed in way that it can be an attractive home furnishing more than an item that offers tremendous durability. You will often find that residential furniture is constructed using more wearable parts than commercial furniture, and the reason for this is simple. The less bolts and joints there are to loosen or break the more vulnerable it is, which is why restaurant chairs can often feature welded joints for example.

High traffic materials :

Cotton fabrics used on home dining sets look attractive and that is what they are designed to be, but that sort of material is going to prove vulnerable in a commercial environment like a restaurant. You will often find that vinyl is frequently used in commercial seating applications, and that is because it is a material that is easy to clean, maintain and repair. Maintenance and repair costs are always a consideration when looking the cost of operating a restaurant facility, so you want to choose commercial high traffic materials that scream durability, if you are going to get value for money and keep repair costs down. Understanding why these differences between residential and commercial furniture, will help you to make the right purchasing choices and get a better return on your investment.

Oliver Morgan in a commercial interior designer who works with hotels and restaurants around the world, though he is now mostly based in Asia. In the height of Summer when work is quieter he enjoys sharing his knowledge and writes articles for business and travel industry sites.

Photo Credit | Shutterstock

This post complies with my Disclosure Policy

Found this useful wondering how you can show me your appreciation? Well, there are some ways you can say thanks and support my website: ➡